WineGB Awards 2025 celebrate best local wines

However, when it came to gold medals, sparkling wines came out on top, picking up almost 67% of the total despite a strong showing from still Chardonnay wines this year.

The ninth edition of the WineGB Awards saw 2023 being the most popular vintage entered (31%), with wines from this year picking up 88 medals in total. The oldest wine submitted was from 2009, demonstrating the ageing potential of GB wines.

Kent retained the top spot as the county with the most golds and medals overall. However, there was increased competition from the western counties for the top medals, with Dorset and Hampshire achieving seven golds, Devon and Somerset with four, and East Sussex and West Sussex each with three, the organiser said.

Four of the gold medal-winning wines were made from fruit sourced from the county of Essex which is proving to be a consistent source of high-quality grapes for still wine production, WineGB added.

In terms of medals overall, there was notable success achieved by London-based urban wineries, which together secured a total of 14 medals. Kent achieved 85 medals in total, followed by Hampshire (40), East Sussex (29), Dorset (17), Devon (13), Gloucestershire (13), Cornwall (11), West Sussex (11) and Norfolk (9).

Big winners

A total of 11 different varieties were used to produce gold medal-winning wines, including the first golds achieved for Albariño, Sauvignon Blanc, and a rosé made from Gamay.

WineGB confirmed that Chardonnay once again performed well among the gold medal-winning sparkling wines, accounting for seven of the eight blanc de blancs expressions that achieved top marks.

Classic cuvées, which were the most popular style of fizz entered into the competition this year (26% of entries), also did well, achieving eight golds.

All but two of these wines were Chardonnay-dominant. Among the still wines, Chardonnay also reigned supreme, accounting for 35% of the gold medals, with Bacchus as the second most successful variety, achieving three golds.

In terms of ages, while non-vintage (24%) and 2021 (20%) were the most popular sparkling wines entered, it was 2020 along with non-vintage wines that gained the most golds, with seven apiece.

While 2023 was the most popular vintage for still wines submitted into this year’s competition, wines from 2022 came out on top, with 41% of the golds achieved in the still category.

Like last year, innovative winemaking techniques were on display. Among the gold medal-winning wines were a perpetual cuvée inspired by the production methods of Champagne Jacques Selosse, a still Pinot Blanc, fortified to 15% ABV and aged under flor in barrel for two years, and a Solera-blended Chardonnay, WineGB said.

This year’s competition also saw the first ever 99 points awarded to a wine.

‘Inherent quality of the wines has never been better’

Susie Barrie MW, chairwoman of the judging panel, said: “This year we had hands down the most exciting final lineup of Chardonnays we’ve ever seen at WineGB. The range of styles and the inherent quality of the wines has never been better.”

Melania Battiston, panel lead, added: “I have extensive experience tasting sparkling wines from around the world, and it’s rare to find such a harmonious blend of consistency and quality throughout the flights.

“As for the still wines, while the quality is undoubtedly high, they are less predictable, which is part of what makes them so exciting. There’s a sense of freedom and experimentation, with winemakers exploring their own styles and thanks to WineGB, increasingly gaining well-deserved recognition for it.”

The trophy winners and points scores for this year’s competition will be unveiled at a ceremony on 17th July at Southwark Cathedral.

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